Last Updated: 6:14 p.m.
A head-on crash on State Road 11 just past the center of Bunnell took the life of one person and required two patients to be trauma-evacuated late this morning.
The crash took place minutes before 11 a.m. on a relatively straight stretch of SR 11, just past Old Haw Creek Road, from which Justice Lane branches off toward the county jail. Light and weather were not an issue: it’s been a dry, mostly sunny day. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
It involved an SUV and a Dodge Charger, and a total of five people, three of them in one vehicle. None of the individuals were from Flagler County. Both vehicles exhibited severe front-end damage. One of the patients required extrication by firefighter-paramedics.
A Florida Highway Patrol report issued late this afternoon was characteristically short on details, specifying only that an SUV and a sedan were involved, and that the sedan (the Dodge Charger) crossed the middle line into oncoming traffic, triggering the crash. FHP has not released the names of the victims even though next-of-kin notification has been made.
A 47-year-old Deltona man was at the wheel of the sedan. He was evacuated in critical condition. His passenger was a 19-year-old man, also from Deltona. He suffered minor injuries.
A 41-year-old Jupiter woman was at the wheel of the SUV. She suffered minor injuries. She had two passengers: a 59-year-old woman from Bedminster, N.J., and a 79-year-old woman from Groveland, Fla. The 59 year old was killed. The 79 year old was evacuated in critical condition.
Fire Flight, the county’s emergency helicopter, landed at a nearby park in Bunnell and flew one of the two patients to Halifax hospital in Daytona Beach. Its flight path indicates it took off around 11:30 a.m. and landed with the patient at Halifax around 11:40. A Flagler County Fire Rescue ambulance transported the other trauma patient to Halifax. A trauma injury means the patient suffered either a serious or critical injury–the type of injuries that cannot be treated except at a trauma center like Halifax.
State Road 11 was closed in both directions at Cody’s Corner, the intersection with County Road 304, and at Old Haw Creek Road, as the Florida Highway Patrol took over the investigation. Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies were first on the scene.
It was the second vehicle crash resulting in a fatality on Flagler County roads in 48 hours. A 60-year-old St. Augustine man was killed when he lost control, for reasons yet unexplained, on U.S. 1 near Matanzas Woods Parkway Friday afternoon and crashed into the concrete barrier of a bridge.
The crash today brings the number of road fatalities to nine this year in Flagler County, two of them pedestrian, matching the total number of road fatalities last year, when Flagler matched its lowest road-fatality total in 27 years. There were 19 road fatalities in the county in 2020 and 12 in 2019.
A.j says
Clear weather, dry road. People we need to be careful in the roads One person died from what I understand. May GOD give the family strength to cope with the death of their family member. Please be careful.
Jimbo99 says
Second one within 48 hours, the other was Friday afternoon. Oh well, determine what happened & learn from this experience is about all we can do at this point.
Lance Carroll says
Lots of high speed drivers and passing happens on SR11. I drive that area everyday. I have had to pull off road many times to avoid someone hitting me head on and/or that vehicle hitting someone else head on. Many folks in a big hurry and not paying attention. Strength to the family that has lost a loved one and all others involved.
PSA: Please slow down and pay attention.
Lance Carroll says
I had to brake and pull off SR11, again today, to avoid a head on collision from an oncoming vehicle in my lane.
just wondering says
So tell me again why there are no trauma centers in Palm Coast/Flagler County????
Why are all of these new hospitals being built then?
Why do they all have to be evacuated to Halifax?
This makes absolutely NO SENSE WHATSOEVER!!
Prayers for all involved, I’m so sorry to hear this happen to anyone!
Concerned Citizen says
My sympathies go out to those involved in the crash.
I’m not sure what’s been going on lately but it’s pretty dangerous on the roads. I’ve seen a lot of aggressive/distracted driving. And people taking chances when it’s not needed.
Slow it down some and exercise a little caution and respect. WE ALL want to make it to our destinations alive.
Dave says
Maybe distracted driving was involved and speeding as a lot of people on 11 drive over the posted limits. Shame that someone had to lose their life and others injured all due to someone crossing over the centerline.
Lisa K says
We drive 11 often to visit family in Deland and notice many people passing erratically. Many are in company trucks and just putting so many people in danger. People, please give yourself more time, understand that 11 is a bypass route for those who DO NOT want to get on US 1 or the Interstate. if you are in a hurry to get somewhere and drive erratically those are the roadways for you. Route 11 is for farm vehicles, motorcycles, truck bypassing interstate traffic to get to route 40 or make deliveries and people who are NOT in a hurry and looking for a leisurely, safe drive to see loved ones.
Wow says
On Rt 11 if yo u go the speed limit, or 5 over, you will be tailgated then passed by every single car and truck. And I have never ever seen any police presence. It is a free-for-all and a dangerous road.
Sincere sympathy says
My heart goes out to each and every person involved in this horrible accident with only the most sincerest sympathies
praying for all families